JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville is working to address the homelessness problem with a $2.5 million ordinance that would create a seven-person team through the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
If approved, the money will help the city address the needs of about 566 people who are considered “street homeless.”
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Dawn Gilman, CEO of Changing Homelessness, said the ordinance is a step in the right direction.
“We’re looking forward to working with the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Team,” Gilman said. “Once they get in place we will need to get them up to speed on what else is available and how they can connect with the rest of the system.”
But Gilman said there are still issues that need to be addressed.
“The downside to that is there is no funding for once they engage with people, what next?” she asked. “What happens next? Where do folks go? How do they get them off the street, either temporarily or permanently?”
News4JAX anchor Ashley Harding spoke with a homeless person who didn’t want to be identified. They shared that they’ve had to sleep outside several times.
“I couldn’t get into the shelter and when I did get into the shelter, you may have certain rules, but they have certain programs that you have to go through,” they said. “And I try to follow them and do it. And then I still don’t get no results. I’m still in the same boat.”
Part of the ordinance explained that the city will focus on increasing shelter beds, providing wrap-around services and case management services with the goal of reaching “functional zero homelessness.”
The anonymous person we spoke with felt making more beds available is a great start.
“I mean to get them into the bed and try to and then try to get them in affordable housing or something like that,” they said. “A great start, instead of you trying to lock a man up for sleeping, waking a man up and taking him to jail for trying to sleep. That’s crazy. That’s ridiculous.”
Gilman said regardless of what happens Changing Homelessness will continue working with Mayor Donna Deegan and City Council, along with leaders in surrounding cities and counties to let them know what’s needed and what the gaps are.
“I think the more that people truly understand that all the resources available are being used, there’s just not enough to decrease homelessness,” Gilman said. “We’re hoping that we can work with those different entities to get the funding that’s necessary so no Floridian has to sleep outside.”
If the ordinance is approved, a little over $1 million will pay for that team’s salaries, benefits, and equipment. The remaining $1.49 million will be used for authorized plan spending money in line with the Homelessness Initiatives Special Revenue Fund.
City Council will vote on this ordinance on Tuesday.